About

Welcome to my blog about my new life in France. My name is Al and I am a retired nurse originally from Northamptonshire in England.

My first affair with France was as a lanky awkward 11 year old when I visited Paris way back in the late 1960’s. I was at high school and in my first year of learning French. I dreamed even then of living in La Belle France. Many years later and after having lived in several countries around the world (Australia, Canada and New Zealand), my dream has become a reality, and I have bought a beautiful old stone house in the Deux-Sèvres. Taking early retirement is the added bonus but I don’t expect to curl up and hibernate!

Apart from reading, music and travelling, my main interests are cooking and food, language, nature, photography and an ever growing love of gardening.

Unless stated all photos are my own, taken with either my Nikon Coolpix S9900 or my Nikon D5000. Please feel free to leave comments and ask questions, and I look forward to you following my musings and ramblings as I explore the region and France.